Clothes-checking apparatus



April 21, 1931. R. B. HOLT 1,802,149

CLOTHES CHECK ING APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEFITZW ATTORN EY April 21, 1931. R. B. HOLT 1,802,149

CLOTHES CHECKING APPARATUS 'Fi1ed-March 27, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNES April 21-, 1931. R. B. HOLT 1,802,149

CLOTHES CHECKING APPARATUS Filed March 27. 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gVENiZRZ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND B. norm, or BLGOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY CLOTHES-CHECKING APPARATUS Application. filed March 27, 1929. Serial No. 350,195.

This invention relates in general to checking apparatus commonly used in public places for checking coats, hats and other arti cles of clothing, the invention consisting of a o rack having different portions for receiving coats upon garment hangers, and hats and the like upon shelves,identification checks being utilized in conjunction with the hangers, and the shelves being'divided into pockets bearing identification characters corresponding to the check upon one of the garment ha'ngers.- a 7 One object of the invention is to provide a rack of the general character described em- 1 bodying novel and improved features of construction whereby it canbe easily and quick ly collapsed into a small amount of space for storing or transportation, and easily and quickly set up at the place where it is to be i used.

' Another object is to provide such a rack including a frame comprisingpivotally connected parts which can vbe folded upon each other and receive between them the shelves so i that the whole rack can be compactly folded or collapsed and all parts thereof are kept together.

Other objects are toprovide a rackof this character, the frame of which can be of pipe I 3, or tubing so asjto be light in weight and strong and durable; and toobtain other advantages andresults as will be brought out by the following description. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout'the several views by the same reference characters: 7 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes checking apparatus embodying my invention. V I I Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof. a Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2. I i Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional r view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the rack in collapsed condition, 7 j a Figures 6, 7 and 8 are deta-iledperspective views of supports for the various shelves. 1 Specifically de cr bing t il ustr te m.-

bodiment of the invention, the rack comprises a frame including two identical end sections 2 each consisting of an inverted U-shaped piece of metal pipe or tubing upon the ends of the arms of which are fitted casters 3. These end sections are pivotally connected intermediate their ends as at 4 to yokes 5 and 6 respectively, each of which comprises a substantially U-shaped piece of pipe having the ends-of its arms bent outwardly as at 7 and rotatably fitted within a fixture 8 fast secured to the corresponding arm of the re-' spective end sections 1 and 2. These yokes are connected at their bases by lengths of pipe 9 which extendothe full length of the rack. To reinforce the end portions, short sections 10 are arranged between the pipes 9 with one end connected to the base of the corresponding yoke and the other end connected by a cross-piece 11 to the two ipes 9. Tie rods 12 and 13 are provided or'preventing the arms of the end sections from spreading in such a manner as to disconnect the fittings 8 from the yokes 5 and 6. The pipes 9, 10 and yokes 5 and 6 form a bottom section. Above the yokes 5 and 6 the arms of the end sections 1 and 2 are connected by horizontal pieces 14:,and upon these horizontal pieces are mountedbrackets 15 for supporting an intermediate frame jstrut section 16. This strut section comprises two lengths of pipe 17 which extend the full length of the frame and are connected at their centers by a cross- .piece 18. The ends of the pipes 17 are provided with studs 19 to removably fit openings .20 in horizontal concave arms 21 forming parts of the brackets 15. Each bracket 15 includes a main portion 22 having an opening 23 to receive the horizontal piece 14:, and the brackets are pinned or otherwise fast secured to the horizontal pieces as at 230. Thebrackets also include angle seats 24 for supporting the lower shelf 25. Above the brackets 15 on each of the end sections 1 and 2 is a pair of shelf brackets 26 to support anothershelf 27 and above this shelf are othershelf brackets 28 identical with the brackets 26 for supporting a third shelf 29. Each of the brackets 26 includes a horizontal seat 39 for the respective shelf, and a vertical concave portion 40 to fit around the arm of the end section to which the bracket is secured as by a pin 41. At the top of each end section is secured a pair of shelf brackets each of which includes a concave portion 31 secured to the horizontal part of the corresponding end section as by a pin 32, and a horizontal arm 33 having a seat 34 for the uppermost shelf 35.

Each of the shelves is of the same con struction and preferably comprises a plurality of slats 36 which extend lengthwise of the rack frame and are connected by cross-bars 37 spaced substantially equi-distantly longitudinally of the slats. To the tops of the cross bars 37 and on substantially the longitudinal median line of each shelf is a middle bar 38. All of the shelves are removably mounted upon their respective shelf brackets and can be lifted from the brackets. Lateral movement of the shelves, is prevented by engagement thereof with the brackets, the shelf 25 being seated with the angle seat 24 between the slats 36; the ends of the endmost crossbars 37 of the shelf 27 abutting against the concave portion 40 of the bracket which is secured to the end section, and the uppermost shelf 38 having two of its slats seated in the seats 34 of the brackets 30.

For reinforcing the rack and preventing the lower portions of the end sections 1' and 2 from separating from each other under a load I may provide a pair of tie rods 42 and 43 each of which has one end pivotally connected at 44 to one of the yokes 5 and 6 and its other end formed with a hook 45 to connect with an eye 48 attached to the cross-bar 18. Preferably the sizes of the parts are such that it is necessary to spring the pipes 17 downwardly in order to place the hook 45 in the eye 48, whereby the tie rods 42 and 43 are normally under tension to take up looseness and play. The pipes 17 each serve as a hanger bar to receive a plurality of garment hangers 49 of known construction. Each of the garment hangers has associated therewith an identifying check 50, and each pocket between two adjacent cross-bars 37 of each shelf carries an identifying character 51 corresponding to that of one of the checks 50. The shelves 25, 27, 29, and 38 are for supporting hats or other articles.

To collapse the rack it is merely necessary to unhook the tie rods 42 and 43 from the eye 48 whereupon they fall downwardly upon the bottom section. The strut section 16 is then lifted upwardly to disengage the studs 19 from the openings 20, after which the strut section is laid upon the bottom section. The shelves are then successively removed from the uppermost one downwardly, and arranged in superposed relation upon the strut section. Thereupon the two end sections are swung inwardly over the shelves and one over the other as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. It is preferable to make the arms of one of the yokes 5 and 6 shorter than the arms of the other yoke so that the end sections may swing inwardly in superposed and substantially horizontal position as shown in Figure 5. With this construction the shelves are practically enclosed within the frame sections which are collapsed upon each other so that all parts of the rack are kept together in a compact relation. The lower ends of the arms of the end sections may then be used as handles for carrying the collapsed rack.

Obviously the casters 3 are for the purpose of facilitating movement of the rack from place. to place during use, it being contemplated that empty racks may be placed in the storage or cloak room and drawn outwardly to a position in proximity to the entrance door, and after being filled with garments pushed back to the storage room.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodying certain details of construction it will be understood that this is primarily for illustrating the principles of the invention, and that many modifications and changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A clothes checking rack comprising a bottom section provided with U-shaped end yokes having the ends of their arms turned outwardly, a pair of end sections pivot-ally connected to said outturned ends of said yokes, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of shelf brackets to removably receive said shelves spaced longitudinally of said end sections above said bottom section, whereby said end sections may swing inwardly over said bottom section and one over the other and said shelves stored between said end sections and said bottom section.

2. A clothes checking rack comprising a bottom section provided with U-shaped end yokes having the ends of their arms turned outwardly, a pair of end sections pivotally connected to said out-turned ends of said yokes intermediate their ends, casters upon the bottom ends of said end sections so that when said end sections are vertical said rack is supported on said casters, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of shelf brackets to removably receive said shelves spaced longitudinally of said end sections above said bottom section, whereby said end sections may swing inwardly over said bottom section and one over the other and said shelves stored between said. end sections and said bottom section.

3. A clothes checking rack comprising a bottom section having end yokes extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of end sections pivotally mounted intermediate their ends upon said-end-yokes, casters upon the bottom ends of said end sections so that when said 7 end sections are vertical the rack is support: ed on said casters, a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of shelf brackets to removably receive said shelves spaced longitudinally of said end sections above said bottom section,

whereby said end sections may swing inward- 7 1y over said bottom section and one over the other and said shelves stored between said end sections and said bottom section.

4:. A clothes checking rack comprising a bottom section provided with U-shaped end yokes having their ends turned outwardly, a pair of inverted U-shaped end sections each having its arms pivotally connected to the out-turned ends of one of said end yokes, means for holding said endsections in upright position, and means connected to said end sections for supporting garments.

5. A clothes checking rack comprising a bottom section provided with Ushaped end yokes having their ends turned outwardly, a

pair of inverted U-shap'ed end sections each having its 'arms pivotally connected to the:

out-turned ends of one of said end yokes, strut garment hanging bars, and means for separably connecting said bars to said end sections, whereby said bars serve both to hold said end sections upright and to support garments.

RAYMOND B. HOLT. 

